调节性小非编码RNA在精子发生过程中的作用研究进展

Roles of Regulatory Small Non-coding RNAs in the Spermatogenesis

非编码RNA(non-coding RNA,ncRNA)在生物体内大量存在,组成复杂的生物调控网络,是目前生物医学领域的研究热点之一。调节性小非编码RNA(small ncRNA,sncRNA),如微小RNA(microRNA)、内源性小干扰RNA(siRNA)和PIWI相互作用RNA(piRNA)是基因表达调控的关键成员,调控着细胞内的多种生理和病理过程。男性不育已经成为一个全球性的健康问题,主要与已知或未知原因引起的精子发生障碍从而导致的无精子症、少精子症或弱精子症有关。近十年来的研究表明,调节性sncRNA通过沉默活性转座子元件和调控编码基因等方式在雄性生殖细胞发育、分化、成熟以及功能发挥等过程中发挥重要作用,这些sncRNA,尤其是在雄性生殖细胞富集表达的piRNA,在生精细胞发育的不同阶段的异常表达与雄性不育密切相关。笔者对调节性sncRNA(尤其是piRNA)在精子发生过程中的作用及其研究进展进行总结,以期为后续相关研究以及男性不育的诊断、干预和治疗提供参考。

Non-coding RNA (ncRNA), expressed widely in organisms and comprised of a complex, regulatory and controlling biologically network, is an emerging theme in the biomedicine field at present. Regulatory sncRNAs, for example, microRNA (miRNA), endogenous small interfering RNA (siRNA) and PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA), are the key members of the gene regulatory network and play important roles in the regulation of multiple pathophysiological activities in cells. Male infertility, a serious social problem all over the world, is mainly related the malfunctions of the spermatogenesis caused by known or unknown factors;and finally result in azoospermia, oligozoospermia or asthenospermia. Recent research indicated that regulatory sncRNAs play important roles in the development, differentiation and mature of the germ cells and their functions at different stages by silencing the transposable elements and regulating the expression of coding gene;and their abnormal expression in germ cells at different stage is closely related to male infertility. In this review, the roles and recent progresses of regulatory sncRNA focusing on piRNA to provide insight for future research in this field and for the diagnoses, interventions and treatments of male infertility are briefly summarized.